Milwaukee County Zoo hosts blood drive for Versiti Blood Center

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- One of the biggest local tributes to the people on the front lines of the fight against coronavirus happened Thursday.

And just as those front-line workers would want, this was also designed to help others.

A blood drive for the Versiti Blood Center took place at the Milwaukee County Zoo's Conference Center.

Donors were asked to bring thank you cards for local hospitals, medical professionals were on hand to talk about the need for blood donors, and Milwaukee's new 3rd Street Market Hall added to the tribute by providing food for local heroes.

"We just wanted to do something really nice for the front-line responders," said Omar Shaikh or 3rd Street Market Hall. "And like it's a lot of the time the police, the sheriffs, the firefighters risking their lives for us, and we just wanted to throw a thousand meals for them."

"We just appreciate the thank yous," said Dr. David Margolis of Children's Wisconsin and the Medical College of Wisconsin. "I will alsosay we appreciate the mask-wearing. This is incredible. I think that this virus is here. We want to help each other by reducing the spread of the virus."